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8 Numbers You Need to Know for Diabetes

How to Manage Diabetes With Numbers

Diabetes self-management is a numbers game. But it's not just about your blood sugar. There are at least eight different numbers you should be familiar with to lower your risk for complications from diabetes symptoms. "Diabetes self-management is absolutely essential," says Enrico Cagliero, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an associate physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center. "Although managing these numbers may not improve diabetes symptoms, it can help decrease the risk of serious complications such as blindness or kidney failure down the road."

Know Your Numbers: A1C

The blood test A1C shows how well your diabetes treatment is working. This laboratory test measures your average blood sugar (glucose) level over the past two to three months. You should have an A1C test at least twice a year, according to the American Diabetes Association. Most people with type 2 diabetes should keep A1C levels below 7 percent. If your levels are higher, you may need to change your diabetes self-management strategy. "Elevated blood sugar over the short term doesn't hurt," says George Grunberger, MD, chairman of the Grunberger Diabetes Institute and a clinical professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. "But the higher the blood sugar, the more complications can develop."

Know Your Numbers: Blood Sugar

Blood sugar self-checks show what your blood sugar level is at that moment. Your doctor may recommend doing self-checks before or after meals and at night. Target blood sugar levels before meals for people with type 2 diabetes are 70 to 130, and less than 180 within one to two hours after the start of a meal. "Make sure you're eating right, and if your blood sugar is still high, you may need a medication adjustment," says Celia Levesque, CDE, a diabetes nurse practitioner and an advanced practice nurse at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Know Your Numbers: Blood Pressure

People with diabetes are much more likely to develop heart disease, so monitoring heart disease risk factors is a vital part of diabetes self-management. People with diabetes should keep their blood pressure below 140/80 mmHg. Taking blood pressure medications as directed, reaching or maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding foods high in sodium can help keep blood pressure under control.

Know Your Numbers: Cholesterol

High cholesterol is another heart disease risk factor that's important to watch when you have diabetes. Total cholesterol should be below 200, with low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, levels under 100 and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, higher than 40 for men and 50 for women. Triglycerides, a type of fat found in your blood, should be less than 150 for both men and women. Limiting saturated fats found in meat, full-fat dairy products, and fried foods can reduce unhealthy cholesterol levels. Getting more physical activity and taking cholesterol-reducing drugs can also help you meet your target cholesterol levels.

Know Your Numbers: Waistline and Weight

"Probably the one factor that's overlooked most often is weight, or even better, waist circumference," Dr. Grunberger says. "It's the most important determinant of cardiovascular outcomes." People who carry more weight as fat around the waist are more likely to develop heart disease. Losing even just a little weight can help reduce your risk. Losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can have significant improvement in your blood sugar and blood pressure.

Know Your Numbers: Kidney Function

A yearly test to check for protein in your urine can tell your doctor if diabetes has affected your kidneys. Kidney damage and failure is a common complication of diabetes. Microalbumin levels above 30 suggest kidney damage. It's treatable if caught early, but if you wait until these numbers are above 300, the damage has a tendency to be permanent, Levesque says.

Know Your Numbers: Daily Calorie Count

Rather than counting carbs, Levesque recommends counting calories to better manage type 2 diabetes. "It's not so much about fats, proteins, or carbs," she says. "With type 2 diabetes, it's about calorie control to get to a good body weight." Recommended calories per day vary, but Levesque suggests a common-sense approach to calorie control. "If you're eating cakes, pies, candy, and sweet drinks, you're using up your calorie bank for things that don't help your body," she says. "But a cookie here and there won't hurt as long as you eat healthy in general."

Know Your Numbers: Exercise Minutes

At least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each day is recommended for people with diabetes to help reduce the risk for complications. Regular exercise can lower blood sugar and "bad" cholesterol, help you lose weight, and keep your heart and body healthy. If you haven't exercised in a while, check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. Start with 5 to 10 minutes a day and aim to work up to at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week.

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